RESIDENTS are being urged to turn out in force to welcome the BBC Children in Need Rickshaw Challenge to Great Malvern.

Malvern Hills District Council has been working with the fundraising challenge, which will see a team of six young people who have been supported by Children in Need-funded projects, pedal 423 miles across the UK to raise money for the charity.

On Tuesday, November 13, day four of the challenge, the team will leave Royal Wootton Bassett in the morning and travel through the district, crossing Eldersfield, Pendock, Castlemorton, Welland and Malvern Wells before arriving at Belle Vue Terrace island at about 7pm.

The team will then go live on The One Show that evening and Pudsey Bear will be there to greet them.

It is hoped a large crowd will turn out to show their support and help raise money for Children in Need, which supports disadvantaged young people across the UK and last year raised an incredible £60.7million.

Businesses in the town centre are also being urged to get involved by holding Children in Need activities or opening later than usual.

Road closures will be in place during the day to help prepare for the arrival of the Rickshaw Challenge team, which will be overseen by staff from Malvern Town Council.

From 11.30am Abbey Road, at the junctions with Church Street and Belle Vue Terrace will be closed. From 5pm to 9pm a full closure of Church Street will be in place from the traffic lights at the junction with Graham Road and Grange Road to the junction with Belle Vue Terrace. Diversions will be in place.

Council leader David Chambers said: “Children in Need is a wonderful charity that does some amazing work supporting disadvantaged young people across the UK. We’re delighted to welcome the Rickshaw Challenge to Great Malvern and I am sure they will receive a warm reception from our residents."